Thanks: 0
Likes: 0
Needs Pictures: 0
Picture(s) thanks: 0
Results 1 to 5 of 5
Thread: What router to buy?
-
7th September 2012, 01:14 PM #1New Member
- Join Date
- Sep 2012
- Location
- Sydney
- Posts
- 2
What router to buy?
Hi All - this is my first post - the username says it all. Judging by some of the posts I've read on this forum its the right place to ask this sort of question with forum members who can help.
I'm setting out on my first serious woodworking project and need advice on what router to buy. This project requires me to cut a series of dados (what do we call them in Oz?) for shelves in two cabinets - all up 24 dados each 25mm wide, 10mm deep.
Will also need to form rebates for cabinet backs with Router
I'll be working with blackbutt from a company specializing in supply of dressed recycled hardwood - don't know if forum rules let me say which one.
So I think my specifications are:
- hand held - dont need / dont want to shell out for a router table for future use
- Plunge router
- Soft start
- variable speed
But what size ? would a 1/4" router be able to handle that sort of work in hardwood or do I need to go to 1/2" ?
Is 3/8" worth considering ?
Just scrolling through a suppliers website seemed to show bits are more readily available in 1/4"
Any guidance you can give me will be appreciated
-
7th September 2012 01:14 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
- Join Date
- Always
- Location
- Advertising world
- Posts
- Many
-
7th September 2012, 03:47 PM #2
Hi Newbie;
If all you are cutting is grooves, trenches and rebates you don't need a plunge router unless they have stopped ends. A "D" handled router is easier to use for these types of cuts as they have a lower centre of gravity and I find them more accurate.
BUT..........
If you are only buying one router then a plunge router is much more usefull overall.
What router you buy all depends on your budget and projected use. I still have my very first router, a 1/4" El Cheapo (at the time!) which is still in fairly regular use as it is small and lightweight. I ended up actually buying a second one because it came up really cheap allowing me to put one of them into a small table. My next one was a 1/2" Ryobi plunge; a little underpowered but OK. Then the big Triton which lives permanently in a table; finally a Makita "D" handle. I still have all 5, they all get used as each one has it's own unique pro's and cons.
If I had to start over again on a minimum budget it would probably be the Ryobi as it was very cheap but could still handle 1/2" cutters.
I'm personally looking at getting this baby Triton, on sale from cheaptoolsau for $179. Carbatec retail them at $100 more.
-
7th September 2012, 04:08 PM #3SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Dec 2010
- Location
- Melbourne
- Age
- 79
- Posts
- 601
I think the baby Triton would be a good buy.
-
7th September 2012, 10:41 PM #4Template Tom
- Join Date
- Apr 2003
- Location
- Perth Western Australia
- Age
- 90
- Posts
- 784
My choice is the Makita 1/2" Plunge router, if you can go the distance and get the variable speed then all the better.
To see the Router in actions for a number of projects have a look at the number of videos I have submiited to complete a variety of routing projects
You TUBE Videos
Routing with Tom O'Donnell Hallway Table - YouTube Routing Hallway Table
Routing with Tom O'Donnell Pedestal top - YouTube Pedestal top
Routing with Tom O'Donnell Routing a tenon on a mitre.MP4 - YouTube Tenon on a mitre
Routing with Tom O'Donnell Circle Cutting Jig part 2.MP4 - YouTube New Circle cutting Jig
Routing with Tom O'Donnell Circle cutting Jig Part 1.MP4 - YouTube Circle cutting Jigs 4 methods
Routing with Tom O'Donnell Routing Elliptical Trinket Boxes Pt 1.MP4 - YouTube Elliptical Boxes
Routing with Tom O'Donnell Producing a small cabinet door.MP4 - YouTube Small cabinet door
Routing with Tom O'Donnell Mortice and Tenon PT 2 - YouTube Routing Mortices
Routing with Tom O'Donnell Mortice and Tenon Pt 3.MP4 Producing the Tenon - YouTube Tenons Floating
Routing with Tom O'Donnell Routing Diningroom chairs - YouTube Dining Room chairs PT 1
Routing with Tom O'Donnell Inlay.MP4 - YouTube Routing Inlays
Rectangular Picture frame Part 2 Routing with Tom O'Donnell - YouTube Rectangular Picture Frame
Rectangular Picture frame Part 1 Routing with Tom O'Donnell - YouTube Rectangular Picture Frame Pt1
Routing with Tom O'Donnell Elliptical Trinket Boxes Pt 2.MP4 - YouTube Elliptical Boxes The Lid
Routing with Tom O'Donnell Routing a Column.MP4 - YouTube Hexagonal Column
Routing with Tom O'Donnell 12 Sided Clock Part 2.MP4 - YouTube 12 Sided clock Pt 2
Routing with Tom O'Donnell Balloon Clock - YouTube Balloon Clock
Routing with Tom O'Donnell Making simple jigs.MP4 - YouTube Simple Template making
Routing with Tom O'Donnell Working with Template Guides.MP4 - YouTube Working with Template Guides sample projects
Routing with Tom O'Donnell Rectangular Boxes.MP4 - YouTube Routing Small Boxes square
dovetails - YouTube Super Jig 1 Dove tails
finger.MP4 - YouTube Finger Joints
bridle jointt.MP4 - YouTube Bridle Joint
MAQ00002 MP4raised panel - YouTube Raised Panel
tenons - YouTube Routing Tenons
MAQ00002.MP4 cabinet doors.MP4 - YouTube Cabinet Doors
Heart shaped boxes Routing with Tom O'Donnell - YouTube Heart Shaped Boxes
Routing with Tom O'Donnell - YouTube completed Jig
Routing with Tom O'Donnell - YouTube super jig joints
Routing with Tom O'Donnell - YouTube Sliding Dovetails
Routing with Tom O'Donnell - YouTube Inlay Material
Routing with Tom O'Donnell Inlay.MP4 - YouTube inlay material 1
Routing with Tom O'Donnell Producing Mortice and Tenon Joints with the router - YouTube Mortice and tenon part 1
Routing with Tom O'Donnell - YouTube Small Table Leg 12th Jan 2012Learn new Routing skills with the use of the template guides
Log on to You Tube for a collection of videos 'Routing with Tom O'Donnell'
-
10th September 2012, 10:22 PM #5New Member
- Join Date
- Sep 2012
- Location
- Sydney
- Posts
- 2
Thanks for your responses. The 1/2" Makita looks the goods, but my missus will kill me if I fork out $500 for it.
I was looking at the 1/2" AEG RT1350E for $200 [I know - you get what you pay for but ...]
I'm wondering if I would wind up regretting buying the AEG. It is 1350watts versus the 2100w for the Makita - do I need the extra grunt of the Makita to do what I want to do with Blackbutt ?
Tom: Thank you for those video links. Its amazing what you have done with that router.
The video of the pedestal top where you secured the router using the fence I thought was very tricky - akin to an upside down router table !
Similar Threads
-
TRITON 3-1/4 HP Router, Model TRC001 or Newer version for router table?
By Uzi in forum TRITON / GMCReplies: 3Last Post: 22nd December 2009, 11:14 PM -
Attching Triton Router to an Vermont American Industrial Router Table
By johanf in forum TRITON / GMCReplies: 4Last Post: 6th June 2005, 11:14 AM